The problems we face now bear no resemblence to any we’ve ever faced. Carrying heavy water punishes the feet, brings exhaustion. Running out of water causes not only painful thirst, but also alters perception. We have to filter 38 miles worth of water from a spring choked with poison oak. Then we misread the map, take a wrong turn down a winding road. The climb back up is incredibly hot. The beauty of the desert isn’t lost on us. We are lost in it.